Method and apparatus for generating delivery data models for aerial package delivery

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for generating delivery data models for aerial package delivery. The approach involves determining at least one delivery surface data object to represent one or more delivery surfaces of at least one delivery location, wherein the one or more delivery surfaces represents at least one surface upon which to deliver at least one package. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, a creation of at least one complete delivery data model based, at least in part, on the at least one delivery surface data object to represent the at least one delivery location. The approach further involves causing, at least in part, an encoding of at least one geographic address in the at least one complete delivery data model to cause, at least in part, an association of the at least one complete delivery data model with at least one geographic location.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/794,371, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FORGENERATING DELIVERY DATA MODELS FOR AERIAL PACKAGE DELIVERY,” filed onJul. 8, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein intheir entirety by this reference.

BACKGROUND

Service providers and device manufacturers (e.g., wireless, cellular,etc.) are continually challenged to deliver value and convenience toconsumers by, for example, providing compelling network services. Onearea of interest has been delivery of goods to intended purchasers attheir respective geographic delivery locations. However, serviceproviders encounter multiple difficulties while delivering goods to acustomer. First, an aerial delivery vehicle finds it difficult to detecta surface of a delivery location associated with the customer, at whicha delivery package can be placed (e.g., an entrance, a driveway, etc.).In addition, objects present at the delivery locations may also obstructdelivery of packages at the geographic addresses. Further, if apredetermined surface of the delivery location is provided to the aerialdelivery vehicle, then the aerial delivery vehicle finds it difficult todetermine a new or an alternate surface due to unavoidable circumstances(e.g., environmental conditions) for placing the delivery package.Accordingly, there is a need for generating delivery data models foraerial package delivery to safely delivery packages.

SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Therefore, there is a need for an approach for generating delivery datamodels for aerial package delivery.

According to one embodiment, a method comprises determining at least onedelivery surface data object to represent one or more delivery surfacesof at least one delivery location, wherein the one or more deliverysurfaces represents at least one surface upon which to deliver at leastone package. The method also comprises causing, at least in part, acreation of at least one complete delivery data model based, at least inpart, on the at least one delivery surface data object to represent theat least one delivery location. The method further comprises causing, atleast in part, an encoding of at least one geographic address in the atleast one complete delivery data model to cause, at least in part, anassociation of the at least one complete delivery data model with the atleast one geographic location.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises at least oneprocessor, and at least one memory including computer program code forone or more computer programs, the at least one memory and the computerprogram code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, atleast in part, the apparatus to determine at least one delivery surfacedata object to represent one or more delivery surfaces of at least onedelivery location, wherein the one or more delivery surfaces representsat least one surface upon which to deliver at least one package. Theapparatus is also caused to cause, at least in part, a creation of atleast one complete delivery data model based, at least in part, on theat least one delivery surface data object to represent the at least onedelivery location. The apparatus is further caused to cause, at least inpart, an encoding of at least one geographic address in the at least onecomplete delivery data model to cause, at least in part, an associationof the at least one complete delivery data model with the at least onegeographic location.

According to another embodiment, a computer-readable storage mediumcarries one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, whenexecuted by one or more processors, cause, at least in part, anapparatus to determine at least one delivery surface data object torepresent one or more delivery surfaces of at least one deliverylocation, wherein the one or more delivery surfaces represents at leastone surface upon which to deliver at least one package. The apparatus isalso caused to cause, at least in part, a creation of at least onecomplete delivery data model based, at least in part, on the at leastone delivery surface data object to represent the at least one deliverylocation. The apparatus is further caused to cause, at least in part, anencoding of at least one geographic address in the at least one completedelivery data model to cause, at least in part, an association of the atleast one complete delivery data model with the at least one geographiclocation.

According to another embodiment, an apparatus comprises means fordetermining at least one delivery surface data object to represent oneor more delivery surfaces of at least one delivery location, wherein theone or more delivery surfaces represents at least one surface upon whichto deliver at least one package. The apparatus also comprises means forcausing, at least in part, a creation of at least one complete deliverydata model based, at least in part, on the at least one delivery surfacedata object to represent the at least one delivery location. Theapparatus further comprises means for causing, at least in part, anencoding of at least one geographic/postal address in the at least onecomplete delivery data model to cause, at least in part, an associationof the at least one complete delivery data model with the at least onegeographic location.

In addition, for various example embodiments of the invention, thefollowing is applicable: a method comprising facilitating a processingof and/or processing (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at leastone signal, the (1) data and/or (2) information and/or (3) at least onesignal based, at least in part, on (or derived at least in part from)any one or any combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in thisapplication as relevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising facilitating access to at least oneinterface configured to allow access to at least one service, the atleast one service configured to perform any one or any combination ofnetwork or service provider methods (or processes) disclosed in thisapplication.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising facilitating creating and/orfacilitating modifying (1) at least one device user interface elementand/or (2) at least one device user interface functionality, the (1) atleast one device user interface element and/or (2) at least one deviceuser interface functionality based, at least in part, on data and/orinformation resulting from one or any combination of methods orprocesses disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment ofthe invention, and/or at least one signal resulting from one or anycombination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this application asrelevant to any embodiment of the invention.

For various example embodiments of the invention, the following is alsoapplicable: a method comprising creating and/or modifying (1) at leastone device user interface element and/or (2) at least one device userinterface functionality, the (1) at least one device user interfaceelement and/or (2) at least one device user interface functionalitybased at least in part on data and/or information resulting from one orany combination of methods (or processes) disclosed in this applicationas relevant to any embodiment of the invention, and/or at least onesignal resulting from one or any combination of methods (or processes)disclosed in this application as relevant to any embodiment of theinvention.

In various example embodiments, the methods (or processes) can beaccomplished on the service provider side or on the mobile device sideor in any shared way between service provider and mobile device withactions being performed on both sides.

For various example embodiments, the following is applicable: Anapparatus comprising means for performing the method of any oforiginally filed claims 1-10, 21-30, and 46-48.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention arereadily apparent from the following detailed description, simply byillustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations,including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Theinvention is also capable of other and different embodiments, and itsseveral details can be modified in various obvious respects, all withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, thedrawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature,and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, andnot by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of generating delivery datamodels for aerial package delivery, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the components of a delivery platform 117,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the components of a package delivery applicationassociated with the aerial delivery vehicle 119, according to oneembodiment;

FIGS. 4A-4D are diagrams that represent a delivery surface data object,a boundary element, a restricted access surface data object, ageographic point object, or a combination thereof, according to oneembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process for encoding a geographic addresswith a delivery data model, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process for determining a restricted accesssurface data object, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for determining boundary elementsand/or delivery edges associated with the geographic address, accordingto one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process for ranking delivery surface dataobjects, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process for encoding information associatedwith a package and/or delivery location and/or a geographic location,according to one embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a diagram that represents delivery surfaces data objectsand/or delivery edges and/or restricted area surface data objects and/orboundary elements associated with the geographic address, according toone example embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) to rankdelivery surface data objects, according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a diagram of the aerial delivery vehicle having a package tobe delivered on a landing pad, according to one example embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a diagram of hardware that can be used to implement anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of a chip set that can be used to implement anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 15 is a diagram of a mobile terminal (e.g., handset) that can beused to implement an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Examples of a method, apparatus, and computer program for generatingdelivery data models for aerial package delivery are disclosed. In thefollowing description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments of the invention. It is apparent,however, to one skilled in the art that the embodiments of the inventionmay be practiced without these specific details or with an equivalentarrangement. In other instances, well-known structures and devices areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuringthe embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system capable of generating delivery datamodels for aerial package delivery to deliver packages at geographicaddresses, according to one embodiment. Generally, a user provides ageographical address for delivery of a purchased package. For example, acustomer purchases a package from an ecommerce website and orders it forhome delivery at a geographical address. Aerial delivery vehicles orautonomous vehicles, nowadays, provide the delivery of the package tothe geographical address. However, while delivering packages at thegeographical addresses, the aerial delivery vehicles may not know atwhich surface the package is to be delivered, or whether any obstacle ispresent on the surface or not. For example, an aerial delivery vehicledelivers a package on a flowerpot on a walkway of a building, which maydamage the package. In addition, the aerial delivery vehicle may betrapped in branches or flowers of the flowerpot while delivering thepackage, which further damages the aerial delivery vehicle. Further, ifthe surface is known, then it is difficult to determine whether thepackage can be delivered at the surface or not, due to large dimensionsof the package. For example, if a dimension of a package to be deliveredis larger than the dimension of a surface, then it is difficult for theaerial delivery vehicle to place the package at that surface, and mayfurther damage the package. Furthermore, due to environmentalconditions, it is difficult for the aerial delivery vehicle to deliverthe package at a predefined surface. However, conventional techniques donot enable the aerial delivery vehicle to determine a surface at ageographic location in real time environment to safely place thepackage. As a result, there is a need for a method to create at leastone delivery data model for at least one an aerial delivery vehicle todelivery at least one package at a geographic address.

To address this problem, a system 100 of FIG. 1 introduces thecapability to generate delivery data models for unmanned aerial deliveryvehicles to deliver packages at geographic addresses. In one embodiment,the system 100 receives a request from a customer to deliver a packageat a geographic address associated with the user. The geographic addressmay include, but not restricted to, a house number, a floor number (incase of multistory building), a street name, a district, a country, apostal code, location in the form of latitude, longitude, altitude, andthe like, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the system 100may configure an autonomous vehicle, a drone, or an aerial deliveryvehicle 119 to deliver the package at the geographic address. In oneimplementation, a pilot at a ground station may remotely control theaerial delivery vehicle 119. In another implementation, the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 may fly autonomously based dynamic automationsystems. The system 100 determines source data from various sources todetermine one or more surfaces associated with the geographic addressfor delivering the package. Further, the system 100 creates deliverydata models to geometrically represent a geographic delivery location ofthe geographic address for aerial package delivery. Based on thedelivery data models, the aerial delivery vehicle may safely deliver thepackage at the geographic location associated with the geographicaddress.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system 100 comprises user equipment 101 a-101 n(collectively referred to as user equipment 101). In one embodiment, theuser equipment 101 may include, but is not restricted to, any type of amobile terminal, a fixed terminal, or a portable terminal. Examples ofthe user equipment 101, may include, but not restricted to, a mobilehandset, a station, a unit, a device, a multimedia computer, amultimedia tablet, an Internet node, a communicator, a desktop computer,a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a netbook computer, a tabletcomputer, a Personal Communication System (PCS) device, a personalnavigation device, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or anycombination thereof, including the accessories and peripherals of thesedevices, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the userequipment 101 may support any type of interface for supporting thepresentment of geographic delivery locations to the aerial deliveryvehicle for delivering packages. In addition, the user equipment 101 mayfacilitate various input means for receiving and generating deliverymodels, including, but not restricted to, a touch screen capability, akeyboard and keypad data entry, a voice-based input mechanism, and thelike. Any known and future implementations of the user equipment 101 mayalso be applicable.

The user equipment 101 may further include applications 103 a-103 n(collectively referred to as application 103). Further, the application103 may include various applications such as, but not restricted to, anecommerce application, a package tracking/reading application, alocation-based service application, a navigation application, a contentprovisioning application, a camera/imaging application, a media playerapplication, a social networking application, and the like. In oneembodiment, the application 103 may be installed within the userequipment 101. In one example embodiment, an ecommerce application maybe installed in the user equipment 101 to enable the user to purchasepackages from multiple ecommerce websites. In another embodiment, theapplication 103 may be considered as a Graphical User Interface (GUI)that provides options to the user to select and purchase packages fromthe ecommerce websites. For example, a user browsing on an ecommercewebsite desires to purchase a mobile phone then the user selects amobile phone and initiates a financial transaction to purchase it.

The system 100 also includes sensor 105 a-n (collectively referred to assensor 105). The sensor 105 may be any type of sensor. In certainembodiments, the sensor 105 may include, for example, but not restrictedto, a Global Positioning Sensor (GPS) for gathering location data, LightDetection And Ranging (LIDAR) for gathering distance data, a networkdetection sensor for detecting wireless signals or receivers fordifferent short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi,Near Field Communication (NFC) etc.), temporal information sensors, acamera/imaging sensor for gathering image data, a package trackingsensor for tracking the package movement, and the like. In oneimplementation, radar, sonar, infrared sensors, and the like may be usedto determine a surface of the geographic address to deliver the package.

Further, various elements of the system 100 may communicate with eachother through a communication network 107. The communication network 107of the system 100 includes one or more networks such as, but notrestricted to, a telephony network, a service provider network, a datanetwork, a wireless network, and the like. For illustrative purposes,the communication network 107 may be any suitable wireless network, andmanaged by service providers. For example, the telephony network mayinclude, but is not restricted to, a circuit-switched network, such asthe Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an Integrated ServicesDigital Network (ISDN), a Private Branch Exchange (PBX), or other likenetworks. The communication network 107 may be separate entities and/orcompletely or partially contained within one another, or may embody ofthe aforementioned infrastructures. For instance, the service providernetwork may embody circuit-switched and/or packet-switched networks thatmay include facilities to provide for transport of circuit-switchedand/or packet-based communications. It is further contemplated that thecommunication network 107 may include components and facilities toprovide signaling and/or bearer communications between the variouselements or facilities of the system 100. In this manner, thecommunication network 107 may embody or include portions of a SignalingSystem 7 (SS7) network, or other suitable infrastructure to supportcontrol and signaling functions. In addition, the system 100 may operateas separate parts that rendezvous and synchronize periodically to form alarger system with similar characteristics. Further, the data networkmay be any Local Area Network (LAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN),Wide Area Network (WAN), the Internet, or any other suitablepacket-switched network, such as a commercially owned, proprietarypacket-switched network, such as a proprietary cable or fiber-opticnetwork. Further, the wireless network may employ various technologiesincluding, for example, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), EnhancedData Rates For Global Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service(GPRS), Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET), Global System For MobileCommunications (GSM), 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE), Internet ProtocolMultimedia Subsystem (IMS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System(UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g.,microwave access (WiMAX), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), satellites,Wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth®, Internet Protocol (IP) data casting,and the like, or any combination thereof.

The system 100 further includes a source platform 109 including one ormore sources 111 a-n (collectively referred to as source 111). Thesource 111 is used to determine source data associated with thebuilding, a geographic location, a geographic address, or a combinationthereof. In one implementation, the building is associated with thegeographic location of the geographic address. In one embodiment, thegeographic location is a geographic delivery location at which a packageis to be delivered. Examples of the source 111 may include, but notrestricted to, Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), building schematics,pedestrian probes, sensors such as the sensor 105, aerial imagery, depthmaps, crowd-sources, and the like, or a combination thereof. In anembodiment, the source data may be retrieved from satellites 115 in realtime, and the like. The source platform 109 may store the source data ina source database 113.

Further, the system 100 includes a delivery platform 117 to encode thegeographic address in a delivery data model. In one embodiment, thedelivery platform 117 is configured to determine source data associatedwith the geographic address from various sources. The source data mayinclude, but not restricted to, LIDAR information, pedestrian probedata, sensor data, depth map information, aerial imagery data, crowdsourced information, building schematic information, and the like, or acombination thereof. In one implementation, the source data is retrievedfrom the source database 113. In another implementation, the source datais determined from the source 111 in real time environment.

Further, the delivery platform 117 is configured to process the sourcedata to determine entrances associated with the delivery location of thegeographic address. The entrance is a point from which a user may enterinto a building. Examples of the entrance may include, but notrestricted to, a front door, a back door, a side door, a window, abalcony, and the like. In one embodiment, the delivery platform 117 isconfigured to process the source data to determine approach paths to theentrances associated with the geographic address. The approach path maybe a path associated with the building through which a user may walktowards the entrance of the building. In one embodiment, the approachpaths may include, but are not restricted to, driveways, walkways,porches, rooftops, and the like, or a combination thereof.

In another embodiment, the delivery platform 117 is configured todetermine delivery surface data objects. The delivery surface dataobjects may represent delivery surfaces of the delivery locationassociated with the geographic address. A delivery surface is a surfaceupon which a package may be delivered by the aerial delivery vehicle119. In another embodiment, the delivery platform 117 is configured todetermine restricted access surface data objects. The restricted accesssurface data object may represent restricted access surfaces of thedelivery location associated with the geographic address. A restrictedaccess surface is a surface surrounding the delivery surface, which maybe impenetrable by the aerial delivery vehicle 119. In one embodiment,delivery of a delivery package by the aerial delivery vehicle 119 isrestricted on the restricted access surfaces. The delivery platform 117is further configured to determine boundary elements of the deliverysurfaces, restricted access surfaces, or a combination thereof. Theboundary elements may represent boundary of the delivery surfaces,restricted access surfaces, or a combination thereof. The deliveryplatform 117 is further configured to determine delivery edges of thedelivery surfaces. A delivery edge is a preferred side of the deliverysurface for placing a delivery package. In one implementation, theboundary edges are determined from the boundary elements.

The delivery platform 117 is further configured to generate ranks forthe delivery surface data objects associated with the geographicaddress. In one implementation, the user may generate a rank for each ofthe delivery surface data objects by selecting a preferred deliverysurface for receiving the package at the surface. In anotherimplementation, the delivery platform 117 may dynamically generate arank for each of the delivery surface data objects based on rankingcriteria such as, proximity to the entrance associated with thegeographic address, environmental conditions associated with thegeographic address and/or a delivery route, a crime statistics, and thelike, or a combination thereof.

The delivery platform 117 is configured to create a complete deliverydata model based on the delivery surface data objects, restricted accesssurface data object, their ranks, or a combination thereof to representa delivery location associated with the geographic address. The deliveryplatform 117 is further configured to encode the geographic address inthe complete delivery data model to associate the complete delivery datamodel with the geographic location. In one implementation, the completedelivery data model may be associated with, but not restricted to, alink identifier of a map link in a map database, a percent distance froma reference node in the map database, a side of the map link, aperpendicular distance from the map link, a Universal Location Reference(ULR), and the like or a combination thereof.

The delivery platform 117 is configured to encode information associatedwith the package to be delivered at the delivery location. Theinformation may include, but not restricted to, delivery information,package information, recipient information, address information, senderinformation, or a combination thereof. The information may be encoded incodes associated with the package, delivery location, geographiclocation, or a combination thereof. In one implementation, the codes mayinclude, but not restricted to, machine-readable optical labels,wireless beacon signals, NFC signals, or a combination thereof. Examplesof the codes may include, but not restricted to, Quick Response (QR)codes, bar codes, or any other two dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional(3D) way of graphical representation of information.

Further, the encoded information is transmitted to a package deliveryapplication 121 of the aerial delivery vehicle 119 to deliver thepackage at the geographic address. The package delivery application 121is configured to determine information from the codes and then deliverthe package based on the information. The package delivery application121 may deliver the package on a landing pad placed in the deliverylocation for the aerial delivery vehicle 119. The package deliveryapplication 121 is further configured to notify the customer about thedelivery of the package at the delivery location. The package deliveryapplication 121 is further configured to provide notifications to thecustomer about the delivery of the package at the delivery location. Inone example embodiment, the notification may include, but not restrictedto, a day, a time, a place of delivery of the package.

By way of example, the UE 101, the source platform 109, and the deliveryplatform 117, and the package delivery application 121 of the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 may communicate with each other and othercomponents of the communication network 107 by using well known, new orstill developing protocols. In this context, a protocol includes a setof rules defining how the network nodes within the communication network107 interact with each other based on information sent overcommunication links. The protocols are effective at different layers ofoperation within each node, from generating and receiving physicalsignals of various types, to select a link for transferring thosesignals, to the format of information indicated by those signals, toidentify which software application executing on a computer system sendsor receives the information. The conceptually different layers ofprotocols are described for exchanging information over a network in theOpen Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model. Communicationsbetween the network nodes are typically effected by exchanging discretepackets of data. Each packet typically comprises (1) header informationassociated with a particular protocol, and (2) payload information thatfollows the header information and contains information that may beprocessed independently of that particular protocol. In some protocols,the packet includes (3) trailer information following the payload andindicating the end of the payload information. The header includesinformation such as the source of the packet, its destination, thelength of the payload, and other properties used by the protocol. Often,the data in the payload for the particular protocol includes a headerand payload for a different protocol associated with a different, higherlayer of the OSI Reference Model. The header for a particular protocoltypically indicates a type for the next protocol contained in itspayload. The higher layer protocol may be encapsulated in the lowerlayer protocol. The headers included in a packet traversing multipleheterogeneous networks, such as the Internet, typically include aphysical (layer 1) header, a data-link (layer 2) header, an internetwork(layer 3) header and a transport (layer 4) header, and variousapplication (layer 5, layer 6 and layer 7) headers as defined by the OSIReference Model.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of components of the delivery platform 117,according to one embodiment. By way of example, the delivery platform117 includes one or more components for encoding a geographic address ina complete delivery data model. It is contemplated that the functions ofthese components may be combined in one or more components or performedby other components of equivalent functionality. In this embodiment, thedelivery platform 117 includes, but not restricted to, a source datamodule 201, a processing module 203, a user interface module 205, aranking module 207, and an encoding module 209.

In one embodiment, the source data module 201 may receive a geographicaddress to deliver a package at the geographic address. The geographicaddress may include, but not restricted to, a house number, a floornumber (in case of multistory building), a street name, a district, acountry, a postal code, and the like, or a combination thereof. In oneimplementation, the source data module 201 may receive the geographicaddress from a customer associated with the package. In anotherimplementation, the source data module 201 may determine the geographicaddress from a navigation device (e.g., a GPS device) used by thecustomer while placing an order for the package. In otherimplementation, the geographic address may be determined from a profileof the customer, which may be created on an ecommerce website. Inanother implementation, the location and/or position of the userequipment 101 associated with the customer may be used to determine thegeographic address.

In one embodiment, the source data model 201 may determine source dataassociated with the geographic address from various sources. In oneimplementation, the source may include, but not restricted to, LightDetection And Ranging (LIDAR), building schematics, depth maps, crowdsourcing (e.g., neighbors), aerial imagery, pedestrian probes (e.g.,building owners, tenants, package delivery drivers, etc.), and the like,or a combination thereof. The source data may include, but notrestricted to, building schematics information, LIDAR information, probedata, sensor data, depth map information, aerial imagery data (e.g.,pavements adjoining a main entrance), imagery information, crowd-sourcedinformation, and the like, or a combination thereof. In oneimplementation, the source data may be determined from the sourcedatabase 113. In another implementation, the source data may bedetermined from the source 111 in real time environment.

In one embodiment, the processing module 203 may process and/orfacilitate a processing of the source data to determine entrances of thebuilding associated with the geographic address. As previously noted,the entrance may include, but not restricted to, a front door, a backdoor, a side door, a window, a balcony, and the like. In one embodiment,the processing module 203 may process and/or facilitate a processing ofthe source data to determine approach paths to the entrances associatedwith the geographic address. The approach paths may include, but are notrestricted to, driveways, walkways, porches, rooftops, and the like, ora combination thereof.

In another embodiment, the processing module 203 may process and/orfacilitate a processing of the source data to determine delivery surfacedata objects. The delivery surface data objects may represent deliverysurfaces of the delivery location associated with the geographicaddress. A delivery surface is a surface upon which a package may bedelivered by the aerial delivery vehicle 119. In one example embodiment,the delivery surface may be, but not restricted to, a three-dimensionalhorizontal surface that may comprise three-dimensional splines. Inanother example embodiment, the delivery surface may be, but notrestricted to, a vertical surface such as, a wall. In oneimplementation, the delivery surface data object associated with thedelivery surfaces may include holes. In one example embodiment, adelivery surface may adjoin one or more delivery surfaces at thegeographic address. In one scenario, the interior of the deliverysurface may be tessellated, or generalized as needed for the packagedelivery.

In one embodiment, the processing module 203 may process and/orfacilitate a processing of the source data to determine restrictedaccess surface data objects. The restricted access surface data mayrepresent restricted access surfaces of the delivery location associatedwith the geographic address. A restricted access surface is a surfacesurrounding the delivery surface, which may be impenetrable by theaerial delivery vehicle 119. In one embodiment, delivery of a deliverypackage by the aerial delivery vehicle 119 is restricted on therestricted access surfaces. Examples of the restricted access surfaceinclude a surface of, but not restricted to, a door, a window, garden,and the like of the building associated with the geographic address. Inone embodiment, a restricted access surface may be adjacent to the oneor more delivery surfaces. In another embodiment, a restricted accesssurface may be adjacent to other restricted access surfaces, such asoverhead.

In one embodiment, the processing module 203 may process and/orfacilitate a processing of the source data to determine boundaryelements of the delivery surfaces, restricted access surfaces, or acombination thereof. The boundary elements may represent boundaries ofthe delivery surfaces, restricted access surfaces, or a combinationthereof. In one example embodiment, the delivery surface data object isan ordered list of boundary elements of a delivery surface associatedwith the geographic address. In one implementation, the boundaryelements may be shared between the delivery surface data objects,restricted access surface data objects, or a combination thereof. Inanother implementation, the boundary element may be modeled as aNon-Rational Bezier Spline, or a Non-Uniform Rational Basis Spline(NURBS) that may be used to represent curves and surfaces. The boundaryelement may include, but not restricted to, a start geographic point, anend geographic point, one or more control points, a knot vector, or acombination thereof. In one embodiment, the determination of theboundary elements may further cause to incorporate the boundary elementsin the delivery surface data objects.

In one embodiment, the processing module 203 may process and/orfacilitate a processing of the source data to determine delivery edgesof the delivery surfaces. A delivery edge is a preferred side of thedelivery surface for placing a delivery package. In one implementation,a delivery edge is determined from the boundary elements associated withthe delivery surface data objects. In an implementation, if a deliveryedge is not defined for a delivery surface data object, then middle ofthe delivery surface is determined as a prescribed point of packagedelivery.

In one embodiment, the delivery surface data object, restricted accesssurface data object, or a combination thereof may be specified withrespect to, geographic point objects. The geographic point objects maybe used to define geographic coordinates of the geographic deliverylocation associated with the geographic address. The geographic pointobjects may be three-dimensional (3D) points defined by latitude (rangesfrom 0° at the Equator to 90° (North or South)), longitude (ranges from180° from the Prime Meridian to +180° eastward and −180° westward), andaltitude. In one implementation, the processing module 203 may determinethe geographic point objects by using depth maps. In one exampleembodiment, the delivery surface data object, restricted access surfacedata object, or a combination thereof may be specified with respect tothe geographic point objects referenced according to a fixed worldcoordinate system. The fixed world coordinate system may be WorldGeodetic System 84 (WGS84) that may independently define the geographiclocations in space without referencing to a postal code associated withthe geographic address. By using the fixed world coordinate system, thelevel of accuracy for measuring the geographic point objects (latitudeand/or longitude) may be raise up to seven decimal precision, and thelevel of accuracy of the geographic point object (altitude) may be raiseup to two decimal precision.

In one embodiment, the user interface module 205 may present a GraphicalUser Interface (GUI) on the user equipment 101. The GUI may receive userinputs from the customer (e.g., owner, tenant, etc.) to select and rankthe delivery surface data objects associated with the geographicaddress. For example, the customer may rank a front porch as rank ‘1’,and rank ‘2’ to the roof, as it is convenient for the customer tocollect the package from the front porch. The GUI is explained inconjunction with FIG. 11. In another embodiment, the user interfacemodule 205 may provide the ranks of the delivery surface data objects tothe ranking module 207. In another embodiment, the user interface module205 may be used to delete, add, and edit properties of delivery orrestricted access surfaces.

In one embodiment, the ranking module 207 may rank the delivery surfacedata objects based on the user inputs received from the user interfacemodule 205. In another embodiment, the ranking module 207 maydynamically generate ranks for the delivery surface data objectsassociated with the geographic address. In one implementation, the ranksfor the delivery surface data objects may be generated based onproximity to the entrance of the building associated with the geographicaddress. In one example embodiment, a rank ‘1’ may be generated for adelivery surface data object of the front porch that is nearest to theentrance of the building associated with the geographic address, and arank ‘2’ may be generated for the delivery surface data object of thedriveway that is farthest from the entrance of the building. In anotherimplementation, the ranks for the delivery surfaces may be generatedbased on environmental conditions such as, weather, associated with thegeographic address. For example, on a rainy day, the ranking module 207may rank a delivery surface data object of a front porch, a coveredarea, as rank ‘1’ and the other delivery surface data object of adriveway, an uncovered area, as rank ‘2’, as if the package is deliveredat the driveway then it may get damaged due to rain. In yet anotherimplementation, the ranks for the delivery surface data objects may begenerated based on crime statistics of a region associated with thegeographic address. For example, if crime statistics for a deliverysurface data object close to a gate is high then a rank ‘2’ is generatedfor the delivery surface data object close and rank ‘1’ is generated fora delivery surface data object close to a front door, or in the view ofa camera on the building for which the crime statistics is low. Thecrime statistics data may be available historically from a database,such as the source database 113. In another implementation, the ranksfor the delivery surface data objects may be generated based onproperties of the package, for example, weight, size, color, content,description (e.g., fragile), and the like, or a combination thereof. Inone implementation, the ranks for the delivery surface data objects maybe generated based on historical delivery information associated withthe geographic address. For example, if the aerial delivery vehicle 119has previously delivered a package at a front porch of the geographicaddress then a rank ‘1’ is generated for the delivery surface dataobject of the front porch and a rank ‘2’ is generated to a deliverysurface data object other than the front porch of the geographicaddress. In a further implementation, the ranks for the delivery surfacedata objects may be generated based on reviews and customer feedbacksabout delivery of a package at a geographic address. For example, theaerial delivery vehicle 119 may rank a delivery surface data object ofthe walkway as rank ‘1’ and rank ‘2’ to the delivery surface data objectof the driveway to deliver the package at the geographic address basedon a customer's feedback. In another example, the aerial deliveryvehicle 119 may move a previously delivered package from the walkway tothe front porch based on the customer's review and feedbacks. In anotherimplementation, the ranks for the delivery surface data objects may begenerated based on closeness to a reference object. For example, basedon closeness to a front door, a delivery surface data object of a frontporch may be ranked ‘1’ as it may be easier for the customer to retrievethe package from the front porch, the walkway ranked ‘2’, and thedriveway ranked ‘3’.

In one embodiment, the encoding module 209 may create a completedelivery data model based on the delivery surface data objects. Thecomplete delivery data model may include, but not restricted to,delivery surface data objects, restricted access surface data objects,ranks of the delivery surface data objects, boundary elements, or acombination thereof. The complete delivery data model may represent adelivery location associated with the geographic or postal address, onwhich the package may be delivered by the aerial delivery vehicle 119.The complete delivery data model is explained in detail in conjunctionwith FIG. 10.

In one embodiment, the encoding module 209 may encode the geographicaddress in the complete delivery data model. The geographic address maybe encoded in the complete delivery data model to associate the completedelivery data model with the geographic location. In one implementation,the encoding module 209 may also encode the geographic address in thecomplete delivery data model to associate the complete delivery datamodel with link identifiers of a map link in a map database. Linkidentifiers may represent a geographic address on a map, therefore, maybe used to identify roads associated with the geographic address. In oneimplementation, the complete delivery data model may be associated witha percent distance from a reference node in the map database. Thepercent distance from a reference node may represents how far thegeographic address is located from a reference node such as a landmark,and intersection, etc. In one implementation, the complete delivery datamodel may be associated with a side of the map link. The side of the maplink may represent a side at which the geographic address is located. Inanother implementation, the complete delivery data model may beassociated with a perpendicular distance from the map link. In yetanother implementation, the complete delivery data model may beassociated with Universal Location Reference (ULR) that represents alink to the delivery location of the geographic address on a map.

In another embodiment, the encoding module 209 may encode deliveryinformation, package information, recipient information, addressinformation, sender information, or a combination thereof in one or morecodes associated with the package, the delivery location, the geographiclocation, or a combination thereof. The delivery information mayinclude, but not restricted to, geographic address of the building, aname of an authorized package recipient, weight of the package,dimensions of the package, a time of package delivery, or a combinationthereof. The package information may include, but not restricted to, aweight of the package, dimensions of the package, a name associated withthe package, description of the package, a delivery time associated withthe package, a package identification number, or a combination thereof.The geographic address information may include, but not restricted to,geographic point objects, delivery location, and the like. The senderinformation may include, but not restricted to, a name of the sender, anaddress of the sender, a phone number of the sender, and the like, or acombination thereof. The code may include, but not restricted to,machine-readable optical labels, wireless beacon signals, NFC signals,or a combination thereof. Examples of the codes may include, but notrestricted to, Quick Response (QR) codes, bar codes, or any other twodimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) way of graphicalrepresentation of information.

Further, the encoding module 209 may transmit the encoded geographicaddress, the encoded package information, or a combination thereof tothe package delivery application 121 of the aerial delivery vehicle 119.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of components of the package delivery application121, according to one embodiment. By way of example, the packagedelivery application 121 includes one or more components for deliveringthe packages to the geographic addresses by the aerial delivery vehicle119. It is contemplated that the functions of these components may becombined in one or more components or performed by other components ofequivalent functionality. In this embodiment, the package deliveryapplication 121 includes a delivery module 301, a notification module303, and a reporting module 305.

In one embodiment, the delivery module 301 may read the code todetermine an aerial delivery route from an inventory to the geographicaddress. Based on the aerial delivery route, the aerial delivery vehicle119 may reach to the geographic address and deliver the package. In oneimplementation, the geographic delivery location associated with thegeographic address may have a landing pad on a delivery surface dataobject upon which the aerial delivery vehicle 119 may deliver thepackage. In one example embodiment, the landing pad may be placed and/orlocated at the delivery surface data object on the roof of the building.In another example embodiment, the landing pad may be placed and/orlocated at the delivery surface data object of the front porch of thebuilding associated with the geographic address. The landing pad mayhave a code that may provide the delivery instructions to the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 at the delivery time. The delivery instructions mayinclude information such as, but not restricted to, geographic addressof the building, a name of an authorized package recipient, maximumpackage weight, maximum package dimensions, a time of package delivery,an image of the package on the delivery surface, geographic coordinatesof the delivery surface, or a combination thereof. In oneimplementation, the delivery module 301 may compare the geographicaddress on the code of the package with the geographic address on thecode of the landing pad to make sure that the package is delivered to acorrect geographic address. In another implementation, the deliverymodule 301 may compare the name on the code of the package with the nameon the code on the landing pad to make sure that the package isdelivered to an authorized recipient. In another implementation, thedelivery module 301 may compare the weight of the package to the maximumpackage weight of the landing pad to make a decision whether to deliverthe package on the landing pad, or to an alternative delivery surfacedata object. For example, if the package to be delivered is heavier thanthe maximum weight tolerable by the landing pad, then the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 may deliver the package on an alternate deliverysurface data object. In another implementation, the delivery module 301may compare the dimensions of the package to the maximum packagedimensions stored in the code on the landing pad to make a decisionwhether to deliver the package on the landing pad or to an alternativedelivery surface data object. In one implementation, the aerial deliveryvehicle 119 may record the delivery time of the package before and afterreading the code of the landing pad.

In one embodiment, the delivery module 301 may deliver the package at analternate delivery surface data object associated with the geographicaddress based on, but not restricted to, the environmental conditions,the crime statistics, the status of the aerial delivery vehicle 119, thedelivery package information, the historical delivery information, thecustomer reviews, or a combination thereof. In one implementation, asorting module (not shown) may sort packages according to theirgeographic address and then the delivery module 301 may route each ofthe packages from the landing pad to their correct geographic address.

In one embodiment, the notification module 303 may generatenotifications to notify the customer about the delivery of the packageat the delivery location of the geographic address. In oneimplementation, the notification module 303 may generate notificationsbefore delivering the package at the geographic address. In this case,the notification may include information such as, but not restricted to,a date, a day, and time, chosen delivery surface, or geographic addressat which the package is going to be delivered. In anotherimplementation, the notification module 303 may generate notificationsafter completing delivery of the package at the geographic address. Inthis case, the notification may include information such as, date, day,time, or delivery surface at which the package was delivered. In oneimplementation, the notification may be, but not restricted to, a visualalert, a haptic alert, a sound alert, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, a reporting module 305 may mark the geographicdelivery location of the package delivery. In one implementation, thereporting module 305 may use the sensors such as the sensors 105, tomark an exact geographic delivery location on the delivery surface dataobject where the package is delivered. In another implementation, thereporting module 305 may take pictures by using a camera to mark anexact geographic delivery location on the delivery surface where thepackage is delivered. In another embodiment, the reporting module 305may generate reports having the geographic delivery location and/or thepictures of the geographic delivery location at which the package isdelivered. In one embodiment, the reporting module 305 may provide thereports to the customer associated with the package. In one exampleembodiment, a report having a map on which the geographic deliverylocation is marked is provided to the customer associated with thepackage.

In one embodiment, the user may manually collect the delivered packagefrom the landing pad. In another embodiment, the package may bedelivered automatically to the geographic address. In one exampleembodiment, in a multistory building, if a package is delivered on aroof of the building then the package may be routed automatically to acorrect geographic address through one or more delivery channels thatrun from the landing pad to the geographic address.

The above presented modules and components of the delivery platform 117and the package delivery application 121 may be implemented in hardware,firmware, software, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, oneor more of the modules 201-209 and 301-305 may be implemented foroperation by respective the aerial delivery vehicle 119. The variousexecutions presented herein contemplate any and all arrangements andmodels.

FIGS. 4A-4D are diagrams that represent a delivery surface data object,a boundary element, a restricted access surface data object, ageographic point object, or a combination thereof, according to oneembodiment. As shown in FIG. 4A, a delivery surface data object 401 mayhave an outer boundary having a list of boundary elements ‘BE-1’ [403],‘BE-2’ [405], ‘BE-3’ [407], ‘BE-4’ [409], and ‘BE-5’ [411]. Also, thedelivery surface data object 401 may have a hole 413.

TABLE 1 < deliverySurface name=“DS-1” rank=“1”> <!-- The outerboundary - ordered list of boundary elements (clockwise) --> <boundary><boundaryElement deliveryEdge=“1”>BE-1</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-2</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-3</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-4</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-5</boundaryElement> ... </boundary> <!-- The holes--> <holes> <boundary> ... <!- not enumerated −> </boundary> ...</holes> </deliverySurface>

Table 1 shows an exemplary pseudo code for defining the delivery surfacedata object 401.

In FIG. 4B, a boundary element of a delivery surface data object isshown that starts at a start geographic point object 415 and ends at anend geographic point object 417. Further, the shape of the deliverysurface data object between the geographic point objects 415 and 417 isdetermined by using a knot vector and a set of control points, in thiscase, there are two control point 419 a and 419 b.

<boundaryElement name=“BE-1” > <curve startPoint=“GP-1” endPoint=”GP-2”><!-- Control points and knot vectors for NURBS --> <controlPoints><controlPoint>GP-3</controlPoint> ... </controlPoints> <knots><knot>...</knot> <!- decimal number −> ... </knot> </curve></boundaryElement>

Table 2 shows an exemplary pseudo code for defining the boundary elementobjects.

FIG. 4C represents a delivery surface data object 421 and restrictedaccess surface data objects 423 a and 423 b. The restricted accesssurface data object 423 a has four boundary elements 425 a-d.

TABLE 3 <restrictedAccessSurface name=“RAS-1”> > <boundary><boundaryElement>BE-1</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-6</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-7</boundaryElement><boundaryElement>BE-S</boundaryElement> </boundary></restrictedAccessSurface> <restrictedAccessSurface name=“RAS-2”> ><boundary> ... </boundary> </restrictedAccessSurface>

Table 3 shows an exemplary pseudo code for defining restricted accesssurface data objects and delivery surface data objects.

FIG. 4D is a diagram for determining geographic coordinates of ageographic point 427 based on a geoid 429 that is a model of global meansea level that may be used to precisely measure surface elevations.

TABLE 4 <deliveryModel> <postalAddress ... /> ... <!- other dwellingidentifers -> <geometricPoints> <geometricPoint name=“GP-1” /> ...</geometricPoints> <boundaryElements> <boundaryElement name=“BE-1”/> <!-shared -> <boundaryElement name=“BE-2”/> ... </boundaryElements><deliverySurfaces> <deliverySurface name=“DS-1” rank=“1”> <boundary><boundaryElement>BE-1<boundaryElement> ... ... </boundary><deliverySurface name= “DS-2 rank=“2”/> ... </deliverySurfaces><restrictedAccessSurfaces> <deliverySurface name=“RAS-1”> <boundary><boundaryElement>BE-1 </boundaryElement> ... </boundary><deliverySurface> <deliverySurface name=“RAS-2”> ... <deliverySurface></restrictedAccessSurfaces> </deliveryModel>

Table 4 shows an exemplary pseudo code of a complete delivery datamodel.

The geographic coordinates of the geographic point 427 may be determinedas, for example, latitude [431] is 41.3213456°, longitude [433] is−88.7487483°, and the altitude [435] is 4.88 meters. In oneimplementation, the values of the geographic points are floatingnumbers.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process 500 for encoding a geographic addresswith a delivery data model, according to one embodiment. In oneembodiment, the delivery platform 117 performs the process 500 and maybe implemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and amemory as shown in FIG. 14.

In step 501, the delivery platform 117 determines delivery surface dataobjects to represent delivery surfaces of a delivery location associatedwith a geographic address. A delivery surface is a surface upon which apackage may be delivered by the aerial delivery vehicle 119. In oneexample embodiment, the delivery surface may be, but not restricted to,a three-dimensional horizontal surface that may comprisethree-dimensional splines.

In step 503, the delivery platform 117 create delivery data models basedon the delivery surface data objects to represent the delivery location.The complete delivery data model may include, but not restricted to,delivery surface data objects, restricted access surface data objects,ranks of the delivery surface data objects, boundary elements, or acombination thereof. The complete delivery data model may represent adelivery location associated with the geographic address, on which thepackage may be delivered by the aerial delivery vehicle 119

Next, in step 505, the delivery platform 117 encodes the geographicaddress in the complete delivery data model. The geographic address maybe encoded in the complete delivery data model to associate the completedelivery data model with the geographic location. In one implementation,the delivery platform 117 may also encode the geographic address in thecomplete delivery data model to associate the complete delivery datamodel with, but not restricted to, a link identifier of a map link in amap database, a percent distance from a reference node in the mapdatabase, a side of the map link, a perpendicular distance from the maplink, a Universal Location Reference (ULR), and the like or acombination thereof.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a process 600 for determining restricted accesssurface data objects, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment,the delivery platform 117 performs the process 600 and may beimplemented in, for instance, a chip set including a processor and amemory as shown in FIG. 14.

In step 601, the delivery platform 117 determines the restricted accesssurface data object to represent one or more restricted access surfacesassociated with the at least one delivery location. The restrictedaccess surface data object may represent restricted access surfaces ofthe delivery location associated with the geographic address. Aspreviously noted, a restricted access surface is a surface surroundingthe delivery surface, which may be impenetrable by the aerial deliveryvehicle 119. In one embodiment, delivery of a delivery package by theaerial delivery vehicle 119 is restricted on the restricted accesssurfaces.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process 700 for determining boundary elementsand/or delivery edges associated with the geographic address, accordingto one embodiment. In one embodiment, the delivery platform 117 performsthe process 700 and may be implemented in, for instance, a chip setincluding a processor and a memory as shown in FIG. 14.

In step 701, the delivery platform 117 determines boundary elements ofthe delivery surface data objects. The boundary elements representboundaries of the delivery surface data object. In one exampleembodiment, the delivery surface data object is an ordered list ofboundary elements of a delivery surface associated with the geographicaddress.

Further, in step 703, the delivery platform 117 determination of theboundary elements may cause to incorporate the boundary elements in thedelivery surface data object.

In step 705, the delivery platform 117 determines delivery edges fromthe boundary elements. In one implementation, a delivery edge isdetermined from the boundary elements associated with the deliverysurface data objects. In an implementation, if a delivery edge is notdefined for a delivery surface data object, then middle of the deliverysurface is determined as a prescribed point of package delivery.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process 800 for ranking the delivery surfacedata objects, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, thedelivery platform 117 performs the process 800 and is implemented in,for instance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown inFIG. 14.

In step 801, the delivery platform 117 ranks the delivery surface dataobjects based on ranking criteria. As previously noted, the rankingcriteria may include, but not restricted to, a proximity to entrancesassociated with the geographic address, UAV status (e.g. size, chargeremaining), environmental conditions associated with the geographicaddress, environmental conditions associated with delivery route, crimestatistics associated with the geographic address, a status of an aerialdelivery vehicle, delivery package information, historical deliveryinformation, one or more customer review, a user input, and the like ora combination thereof. For example, the customer may rank a deliverysurface data object of the roof as rank ‘1’ and rank a delivery surfacedata object of the walkway as rank ‘2’. Then, delivery surface dataobjects may be selected for delivering the package at a geographicaddress based, at least in part, on the ranking. As in the aboveexample, the delivery surface data object of the roof is selected todeliver the package at the geographic address.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process 900 for encoding informationassociated with a package and/or delivery location and/or a geographiclocation, according to one embodiment. In one embodiment, the deliveryplatform 117 performs the process 900 and is implemented in, forinstance, a chip set including a processor and a memory as shown in FIG.14.

In step 901, the delivery platform 117 encodes delivery information,package information, recipient information, address information, senderinformation, or a combination thereof in codes associated with thepackage, the delivery location, the geographic location, or acombination thereof. The code may include, but is not restricted to,machine-readable optical labels, wireless beacon signals, NFC signals,or a combination thereof. Examples of the codes may include, but is notrestricted to, Quick Response (QR) codes, bar codes, or any other twodimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) way of graphicalrepresentation of information. These codes are made available forreading by an aerial delivery vehicle capable of delivering a packageand/or accepting a package for delivery. In one embodiment, the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 determines whether the package is being deliveredat a correct geographic address based, at least in part, on the encodedinformation. In one embodiment, the delivery location includes a landingpad for the aerial delivery vehicle.

FIG. 10 is a diagram that represents delivery surfaces data objectsand/or delivery edges and/or restricted area surface data objects and/orboundary elements associated with the geographic address, according toone embodiment. Source data associated with a building 1001 isdetermined. The source data is then processed to determine a deliverysurface data object 1003 of a porch and a delivery surface data object1005 of a walkway. The source data is further processed to determinerestricted access surface data objects such as a door ‘RAS-1’ [1007], aside wall ‘RAS-2’ [1009], a roof ‘RAS-3’ [1011], and a side wall ‘RAS-4’[1013], and boundary elements such as, ‘BE-1’ [1015], ‘BE-2’ [1017],‘BE-3’ [1019], ‘BE-4’ [1021], and ‘BE-5’ [1023]. The delivery surfacedata objects 1003 and 1005 are then ranked. In this example embodiment,there are two delivery surface data objects, the delivery surface dataobject 1003 is ranked ‘1’ and the delivery surface data object 1005 isranked ‘2’. In one example embodiment, the restricted access surfacedata objects are not ranked. Further, information associated with thegeographic delivery location is retrieved and is encoded to generate acomplete delivery data model. As previously noted, the encoding module209 of the delivery platform 117 generates the complete delivery datamodel. The encoded complete delivery data model is then transmitted tothe aerial delivery vehicle 119 to deliver the package at a deliverylocation of the geographic address based on the complete delivery datamodel.

TABLE 5 <deliveryModel> <postalAddress ... /> ... <!- other dwellingidentifers −> <geometricPoints> <geometricPoint name=“GP-1” /> ...</geometricPoints> <boundaryElements> <boundaryElement name=“BE-1”/> <!-shared −> <boundaryElement name=“BE-2”/> ... </boundaryElements><deliverySurfaces> <deliverySurface name=“DS-1” rank-“1”> <boundary><boundaryElement>BE-1<boundaryElement> ... ... </boundary><deliverySurface name=“DS-2 rank=“2”/> ... </deliverySurfaces><restrictedAccessSurfaces> <deliverySurface name=“RAS-1”> <boundary><boundaryElement>BE-1</boundaryElement> ... </boundary><deliverySurface> <deliverySurface name=“RAS-2”> ... <deliverySurface></restrictedAccessSurfaces> </deliveryModel>

Table 5 shows an exemplary pseudo code of a complete delivery data modelthat is associated with a postal address.

FIG. 11 is a diagram that represents a GUI 1101 of the UE 101 to rankdelivery surface data objects associated with a geographic address. Inone example embodiment, a house owner or a tenant may manually configureand edit ranks of the delivery surface data objects by using the GUI1101. As shown, the owner may rank a delivery surface data object ‘2’[1103] of a porch as rank ‘1’, a delivery surface data object ‘1’ [1105]of a walkway as rank ‘2’, a delivery surface data object ‘3’ [1107] of adriveway as rank ‘3’, and a delivery surface data object ‘5’ [1109] of aroof as rank ‘4’. Further, the owner may click on a ‘run’ button 1111 torun the package delivery application 121 on the user equipment 101.Based on the customer's ranking, complete delivery data model for thegeographic address is created, which is then transmitted to the aerialdelivery vehicle 119. The aerial delivery vehicle 119 generates aerialdelivery route to deliver a package at the delivery location associatedwith the geographic address. For example, a grandmother with walkingchallenges prefers the package be delivered on the delivery surface dataobject ‘2’ [1103] that is closest to the front door. Then the aerialdelivery vehicle 119 may attempt to deliver the package at the deliverysurface data object ‘2’ [1103]. However, in case, an obstacle such as, adog is sleeping on the delivery surface data object ‘2’ [1103] then theaerial delivery vehicle 119 may deliver the package at the deliverysurface data object ‘1’ [1105].

FIG. 12 is a diagram of the aerial delivery vehicle 119 having a package1201 to be delivered at the geographic address, according to one exampleembodiment. The package 1201 to be delivered by the aerial deliveryvehicle 119 includes a code 1203 such as a QR code that encodes packageinformation. The package information includes, but is not restricted to,weight of the package, dimensions of the package, an address that thepackage will be delivered to, a name of the person that the package isaddressed to, a description of the package such as fragile or not. Theaerial delivery vehicle 119 reads the code 1203 of the package atpackage ‘pick-up’ time in an inventory and save the package informationinto a memory of the aerial delivery vehicle 119.

Further, the aerial delivery vehicle 119 detects a landing pad 1207 on abuilding 1209 in order to deliver the package 1203. As shown, thelanding pad 1207 is placed on a roof of the building 1209 such as, amultistory building with apartment 1 and apartment 2. The landing pad1207 has a code 1209 that includes encoded delivery informationassociated with the delivery time. The delivery information may includeinformation such as, but not restricted to, geographic address of thebuilding, a name of an authorized package recipient, maximum packageweight, maximum package dimensions, a time of package delivery, an imageof the package on the delivery surface, geographic coordinates of thedelivery surface, or a combination thereof. The aerial delivery vehicle119 handshakes with the landing pad 1207 and then the code 1209 on thelanding pad 1207 provides delivery information to the aerial deliveryvehicle 119. The aerial delivery vehicle 119 compares the deliveryinformation on the code of the package 1201 with the deliveryinformation on the code 1209 of the landing pad 1207. If the deliveryinformation matches of the codes 1203 and 1209, then the aerial deliveryvehicle 119 may deliver the package 1201 on the landing pad 1207 of thebuilding 1209. In case, the delivery information does not match, thenthe aerial delivery vehicle 119 may calculate a route to the correctgeographic address.

The processes described herein for generating complete delivery datamodels for aerial delivery vehicles may be advantageously implementedvia software, hardware, firmware or a combination of software and/orfirmware and/or hardware. For example, the processes described herein,may be advantageously implemented via processor(s), Digital SignalProcessing (DSP) chip, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit(ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc. Such exemplaryhardware for performing the described functions is detailed below.

FIG. 13 illustrates a computer system 1300 upon which an embodiment ofthe invention may be implemented. Although computer system 1300 isdepicted with respect to a particular device or equipment, it iscontemplated that other devices or equipment (e.g., network elements,servers, etc.) within FIG. 13 can deploy the illustrated hardware andcomponents of system. The computer system 1300 is programmed (e.g., viacomputer program code or instructions) to generate complete deliverydata models for aerial delivery vehicle described herein and includes acommunication mechanism such as a bus 1301 for passing informationbetween other internal and external components of the computer system1300. Information (also called data) is represented as a physicalexpression of a measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, butincluding, in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic,electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, biological, molecular, atomic,sub-atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north and southmagnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent twostates (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit). Other phenomena can representdigits of a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneousquantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). Asequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is used torepresent a number or code for a character. In some embodiments,information called analog data is represented by a near continuum ofmeasurable values within a particular range. The computer system 1300,or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or moresteps for generating complete delivery data models for aerial deliveryvehicles.

A bus 1301 includes one or more parallel conductors of information sothat information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus1301. One or more processors 1303 for processing information are coupledwith the bus 1301.

The processor (or multiple processors) 1303 performs a set of operationson information as specified by computer program code related to generatecomplete delivery data models for aerial delivery vehicles. The computerprogram code is a set of instructions or statements providinginstructions for the operation of the processor 1303 and/or the computersystem 1300 to perform specified functions. The code, for example, maybe written in a computer programming language that is compiled into anative instruction set of the processor 1303. The code may also bewritten directly using the native instruction set (e.g., machinelanguage). The set of operations include bringing information in fromthe bus 1301 and placing information on the bus 1301. The set ofoperations also typically include comparing two or more units ofinformation, shifting positions of units of information, and combiningtwo or more units of information, such as by addition or multiplicationor logical operations like OR, exclusive OR (XOR), and AND. Eachoperation of the set of operations that can be performed by theprocessor is represented to the processor by information calledinstructions, such as an operation code of one or more digits. Asequence of operations to be executed by the processor 1303, such as asequence of operation codes, constitute processor instructions, alsocalled computer system instructions or, simply, computer instructions.The processors 1303 may be implemented as mechanical, electrical,magnetic, optical, chemical, or quantum components, among others, aloneor in combination. The computer system 1300 also includes a memory 1305coupled to the bus 1301. The memory 1305, such as a Random Access Memory(RAM) or any other dynamic storage device, stores information includingprocessor instructions for storing information and instructions to beexecuted by the processor 1303. The dynamic memory 1305 allowsinformation stored therein to be changed by the computer system 1300.RAM allows a unit of information stored at a location called a memoryaddress to be stored and retrieved independently of information atneighboring addresses. The memory 1305 is also used by the processor1303 to store temporary values during execution of processorinstructions. The computer system 1300 also includes a Read Only Memory(ROM) 1307 or any other static storage device coupled to the bus 1301for storing static information, including instructions, that is notchanged by the computer system 1300. Some memory is composed of volatilestorage that loses the information stored thereon when power is lost.Also coupled to the bus 1301 is a non-volatile (persistent) storagedevice 1309, such as a magnetic disk, a solid state disk, optical diskor flash card, for storing information, including instructions, thatpersists even when the computer system 1300 is turned off or otherwiseloses power.

Information, including instructions for generating complete deliverydata models for aerial delivery package, is provided to the bus 1301 foruse by the processor 1303 from an external input device 1311, such as akeyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, amicrophone, an Infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, astylus pen, a touch screen, or a sensor. The sensor detects conditionsin its vicinity and transforms those detections into physical expressioncompatible with the measurable phenomenon used to represent informationin computer system 1300. Other external devices coupled to the bus 1301,used primarily for interacting with humans, include a display 1313, suchas a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a LightEmitting Diode (LED) display, an organic LED (OLED) display, activematrix display, Electrophoretic Display (EPD), a plasma screen, or aprinter for presenting text or images, and a pointing device 1315, suchas a mouse, a trackball, cursor direction keys, or a motion sensor, forcontrolling a position of a small cursor image presented on the display1313 and issuing commands associated with graphical elements presentedon the display 1313, and one or more camera sensors 1317 for capturing,recording and causing to store one or more still and/or moving images(e.g., videos, movies, etc.) which also may comprise audio recordings.Further, the display 1313 may be a touch enabled display such ascapacitive or resistive screen. In some embodiments, for example, inembodiments in which the computer system 1300 performs all functionsautomatically without human input, one or more of the external inputdevice 1311, the display device 1313 and the pointing device 1315 may beomitted.

In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) 1319, is coupled to thebus 1301. The special purpose hardware is configured to performoperations not performed by the processor 1303 quickly enough forspecial purposes. Examples of ASICs include graphics accelerator cardsfor generating images for the display 1313, cryptographic boards forencrypting and decrypting messages sent over a network, speechrecognition, and interfaces to special external devices, such as roboticarms and medical scanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complexsequence of operations that are more efficiently implemented inhardware.

The computer system 1300 also includes one or more instances of acommunication interface 1321 coupled to the bus 1301. The communicationinterface 1321 provides a one-way or two-way communication coupling to avariety of external devices that operate with their own processors, suchas printers, scanners and external disks. In general, the coupling iswith a network link 1323 that is connected to a local network 1325 towhich a variety of external devices with their own processors areconnected. For example, the communication interface 1321 may be aparallel port or a serial port or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port on apersonal computer. In some embodiments, the communication interface 1321is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) card, a DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL) card, or a telephone modem that provides aninformation communication connection to a corresponding type oftelephone line. In some embodiments, the communication interface 1321 isa cable modem that converts signals on the bus 1301 into signals for acommunication connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signalsfor a communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As anotherexample, the communications interface 1321 may be a Local Area Network(LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatibleLAN, such as Ethernet™ or an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network.In one embodiment, wireless links may also be implemented. For wirelesslinks, the communication interface 1321 sends or receives or both sendsand receives electrical, acoustic or electromagnetic signals, includinginfrared and optical signals that carry information streams, such asdigital data. For example, in wireless handheld devices, such as mobiletelephones like cell phones, the communication interface 1321 includes aradio band electromagnetic transmitter and receiver called a radiotransceiver. In certain embodiments, the communication interface 1321enables connection to the communication network 107 for generatingcomplete delivery data models for aerial delivery vehicles. Further, thecommunication interface 1321 can include peripheral interface devices,such as a thunderbolt interface, a Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) interface, etc. Although a singlecommunication interface 1321 is depicted, multiple communicationinterfaces can also be employed.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing information to the processor 1303,including instructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms,including, but not limited to, computer-readable storage medium (e.g.,non-volatile media, volatile media), and transmission media.Non-transitory media, such as non-volatile media, include, for example,optical or magnetic disks, such as the storage device 1309. Volatilemedia include, for example, the dynamic memory 1305. Transmission mediainclude, for example, twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, copper wire,fiber optic cables, and carrier waves that travel through space withoutwires or cables, such as acoustic waves, optical or electromagneticwaves, including radio, optical and infrared waves. Signals includeman-made transient variations in amplitude, frequency, phase,polarization or other physical properties transmitted through thetransmission media. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a USB flash drive, a Blu-ray disk, a CD-ROM,CDRW, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, opticalmark sheets, any other physical medium with patterns of holes or otheroptically recognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM,an EEPROM, a flash memory, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrierwave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The termcomputer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to anycomputer-readable medium except transmission media.

Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both ofprocessor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and specialpurpose hardware, such as ASIC 1319.

The network link 1323 typically provides information communication usingtransmission media through one or more networks to other devices thatuse or process the information. For example, the network link 1323 mayprovide a connection through the local network 1325 to a host computer1327 or to ISP equipment 1329 operated by an Internet Service Provider(ISP). The ISP equipment 1329 in turn provides data communicationservices through the public, world-wide packet-switching communicationnetwork of networks now commonly referred to as the Internet 1331.

A computer called a server host 1333 connected to the Internet 1331hosts a process that provides a service in response to informationreceived over the Internet 1331. For example, the server host 1333 hostsa process that provides information representing video data forpresentation at the display 1313. It is contemplated that the componentsof the computer system 1300 can be deployed in various configurationswithin other computer systems, e.g., the host 1327 and the server 1333.

At least some embodiments of the invention are related to the use of thecomputer system 1300 for implementing some or all of the techniquesdescribed herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, thosetechniques are performed by the computer system 1300 in response to theprocessor 1303 executing one or more sequences of one or more processorinstructions contained in the memory 1305. Such instructions, alsocalled computer instructions, software and program code, may be readinto the memory 1305 from another computer-readable medium such as thestorage device 1309 or the network link 1323. Execution of the sequencesof instructions contained in the memory 1305 causes the processor 1303to perform one or more of the method steps described herein. Inalternative embodiments, hardware, such as the ASIC 1319, may be used inplace of or in combination with software to implement the invention.Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specificcombination of hardware and software, unless otherwise explicitly statedherein.

The signals transmitted over the network link 1323 and other networksthrough the communication interface 1321, carry information to and fromcomputer system 1300. The computer system 1300 can send and receiveinformation, including program code, through the networks 1325, 1331among others, through the network link 1323 and the communicationinterface 1321. In an example using the Internet 1331, the server host1333 transmits program code for a particular application, requested by amessage sent from the computer system 1300, through the Internet 1331,ISP equipment 1329, the local network 1325 and the communicationinterface 1321. The received code may be executed by the processor 1303as it is received, or may be stored in the memory 1305 or in the storagedevice 1309 or any other non-volatile storage for later execution, orboth. In this manner, the computer system 1300 may obtain applicationprogram code in the form of signals on a carrier wave.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequence of instructions or data or both to the processor 1303for execution. For example, instructions and data may initially becarried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as the host 1327.The remote computer loads the instructions and data into its dynamicmemory and sends the instructions and data over a telephone line using amodem. A modem local to the computer system 1300 receives theinstructions and data on a telephone line and uses an infra-redtransmitter to convert the instructions and data to a signal on aninfra-red carrier wave serving as the network link 1323. An infrareddetector serving as the communication interface 1321 receives theinstructions and data carried in the infrared signal and placesinformation representing the instructions and data onto the bus 1301.The bus 1301 carries the information to the memory 1305 from which theprocessor 1303 retrieves and executes the instructions using some of thedata sent with the instructions. The instructions and data received inthe memory 1305 may optionally be stored on the storage device 1309,either before or after execution by the processor 1303.

FIG. 14 illustrates a chip set or chip 1400 upon which an embodiment ofthe invention may be implemented. The chip set 1400 is programmed toprocess and transmit sensor data in a bandwidth efficient manner asdescribed herein and includes, for instance, the processor and memorycomponents described with respect to FIG. 13 incorporated in one or morephysical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical packageincludes an arrangement of one or more materials, components, and/orwires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard) to provide one ormore characteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size,and/or limitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that incertain embodiments the chip set 1400 can be implemented in a singlechip. It is further contemplated that in certain embodiments the chipset or chip 1400 can be implemented as a single “system on a chip.” Itis further contemplated that in certain embodiments a separate ASICwould not be used, for example, and that all relevant functions asdisclosed herein would be performed by a processor or processors. Thechip set or chip 1400, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means forperforming one or more steps of providing user interface navigationinformation associated with the availability of functions. The chip setor chip 1400, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performingone or more steps for generating complete delivery data models foraerial delivery vehicles.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 1400 includes a communicationmechanism such as a bus 1401 for passing information among thecomponents of the chip set 1400. A processor 1403 has connectivity tothe bus 1401 to execute instructions and process information stored in,for example, a memory 1405. The processor 1403 may include one or moreprocessing cores with each core configured to perform independently. Amulti-core processor enables multiprocessing within a single physicalpackage. Examples of a multi-core processor include two, four, eight, orgreater numbers of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, theprocessor 1403 may include one or more microprocessors configured intandem via the bus 1401 to enable independent execution of instructions,pipelining, and multithreading. The processor 1403 may also beaccompanied with one or more specialized components to perform certainprocessing functions and tasks such as one or more Digital SignalProcessors (DSP) 1407, or one or more Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASIC) 1409. The DSP 1407 typically is configured to processreal-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time independently of theprocessor 1403. Similarly, the ASIC 1409 can be configured to performedspecialized functions not easily performed by a more general purposeprocessor. Other specialized components to aid in performing theinventive functions described herein may include one or more FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGA), one or more controllers, or one or moreother special-purpose computer chips.

In one embodiment, the chip set or chip 1400 includes merely one or moreprocessors and some software and/or firmware supporting and/or relatingto and/or for the one or more processors.

The processor 1403 and accompanying components have connectivity to thememory 1405 via the bus 1401. The memory 1405 includes both dynamicmemory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) andstatic memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executableinstructions that when executed perform the inventive steps describedherein to generate complete delivery data models for aerial deliveryvehicles. The memory 1405 also stores the data associated with orgenerated by the execution of the inventive steps.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal 1501(e.g., handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in thesystem of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, themobile terminal 1501, or a portion thereof, constitutes a means forgenerating complete delivery data models for aerial delivery vehicles.Generally, a radio receiver is often defined in terms of front-end andback-end characteristics. The front-end of the receiver encompasses allof the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the back-end encompassesall of the base-band processing circuitry. As used in this application,the term “circuitry” refers to both: (1) hardware-only implementations(such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry), and(2) to combinations of circuitry and software (and/or firmware) (suchas, if applicable to the particular context, to a combination ofprocessor(s), including digital signal processor(s), software, andmemory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobilephone or server, to perform various functions). This definition of“circuitry” applies to all uses of this term in this application,including in any claims. As a further example, as used in thisapplication and if applicable to the particular context, the term“circuitry” would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (ormultiple processors) and its (or their) accompanying software/orfirmware. The term “circuitry” would also cover if applicable to theparticular context, for example, a baseband integrated circuit orapplications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a similarintegrated circuit in a cellular network device or other networkdevices.

Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main ControlUnit (MCU) 1503, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 1505, and areceiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and aspeaker gain control unit. A main display unit 1507 provides a displayto the user in support of various applications and mobile terminalfunctions that perform or support the steps for generating completedelivery data models for aerial delivery vehicles. The display 1507includes display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of auser interface of the mobile terminal 1501 (e.g., mobile telephone).Additionally, the display 1507 and display circuitry are configured tofacilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobileterminal 1501. An audio function circuitry 1509 includes a microphone1511 and microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech signal outputfrom the microphone 1511. The amplified speech signal output from themicrophone 1511 is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC) 1513.

A radio section 1515 amplifies power and converts frequency in order tocommunicate with a base station, which is included in a mobilecommunication system, via antenna 1517. The antenna 1517 may work onMultiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO). MIMO is generally a part ofwireless communication standards, such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), 3G, WiMAX(4G), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and the like. The power amplifier (PA)1519 and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationallyresponsive to the MCU 1503, with an output from the PA 1519 coupled to aduplexer 1521 or circulator or antenna switch, as known in the art. ThePA 1519 also couples to a battery interface and a power control unit1523.

In use, a user of the mobile terminal 1501 speaks into the microphone1511 and his or her voice along with any detected background noise isconverted into an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then convertedinto a digital signal through an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) 1525.The control unit 1503 routes the digital signal into the DSP 1505 forprocessing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding,encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voicesignals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellulartransmission protocol such as Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS),Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), etc., as well as anyother suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), LongTerm Evolution (LTE) networks, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Wireless Fidelity(Wi-Fi), satellite, and the like, or any combination thereof.

The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer 1527 forcompensation of any frequency-dependent impairments that occur duringtransmission though the air such as phase and amplitude distortion.After equalizing the bit stream, a modulator 1529 combines the signalwith a RF signal generated in the RF interface 1531. The modulator 1529generates a sine wave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In orderto prepare the signal for transmission, an up-converter 1533 combinesthe sine wave output from the modulator 1529 with another sine wavegenerated by a synthesizer 1535 to achieve the desired frequency oftransmission. The signal is then sent through the PA 1519 to increasethe signal to an appropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA1519 acts as a variable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by theDSP 1505 from information received from a network base station. Thesignal is then filtered within the duplexer 1521 and optionally sent toan antenna coupler 1537 to match impedances to provide maximum powertransfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via the antenna 1517 to alocal base station. An Automatic Gain Control (AGC) can be supplied tocontrol the gain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may beforwarded from there to a remote telephone which may be another cellulartelephone, any other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a PublicSwitched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks.

Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal 1501 are received viathe antenna 1517 and immediately amplified by a Low Noise Amplifier(LNA) 1539. A down-converter 1541 lowers the carrier frequency while ademodulator 1543 strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream.The signal then goes through the equalizer 1527 and is processed by theDSP 1505. A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) 1545 converts the signaland the resulting output is transmitted to the user through a speaker1547, all under control of the Main Control Unit (MCU) 1503 that can beimplemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU).

The MCU 1503 receives various signals including input signals from akeyboard 1549. The keyboard 1549 and/or the MCU 1503 in combination withother user input components (e.g., the microphone 1511) comprise a userinterface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU 1503 runs userinterface software to facilitate user control of at least some functionsof the mobile terminal 1501 to generate complete delivery data modelsfor aerial delivery vehicles. The MCU 1503 also delivers a displaycommand and a switch command to the display 1507 and to the speechoutput switching controller, respectively. Further, the MCU 1103exchanges information with the DSP 1505 and can access an optionallyincorporated SIM card 1551 and a memory 1553. In addition, the MCU 1503executes various control functions required of the terminal. The DSP1505 may, depending upon the implementation, perform any of a variety ofconventional digital processing functions on the voice signals.Additionally, the DSP 1505 determines the background noise level of thelocal environment from the signals detected by the microphone 1511 andsets the gain of microphone 1511 to a level selected to compensate forthe natural tendency of the user of the mobile terminal 1501.

The CODEC 1513 includes the ADC 1525 and DAC 1545. The memory 1553stores various data including call incoming tone data and is capable ofstoring other data including music data received via, e.g., the globalInternet. The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory,registers, or any other form of writable storage medium known in theart. The memory 1553 may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD,DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, magnetic disk storage, flashmemory storage, or any other non-volatile storage medium capable ofstoring digital data.

An optionally incorporated SIM card 1551 carries, for instance,important information, such as the cellular phone number, the carriersupplying service, subscription details, and security information. TheSIM card 1551 serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal 1501 on aradio network. The SIM card 1551 also contains a memory for storing apersonal telephone number registry, text messages, and user specificmobile terminal settings.

Further, one or more camera sensors 1555 may be incorporated onto themobile terminal 1501 wherein the one or more camera sensors 1555 may beplaced at one or more locations on the mobile terminal 1501. Generally,the camera sensors 1555 may be utilized to capture, record, and cause tostore one or more still and/or moving images (e.g., videos, movies,etc.) which also may comprise audio recordings.

While the invention has been described in connection with a number ofembodiments and implementations, the invention is not so limited butcovers various obvious modifications and equivalent arrangements, whichfall within the purview of the appended claims. Although features of theinvention are expressed in certain combinations among the claims, it iscontemplated that these features can be arranged in any combination andorder.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining at least twodelivery surface data objects to represent at least two deliverysurfaces of at least one delivery location, wherein the at least twodelivery surfaces represents at least one surface upon which to deliverat least one package; creating at least one complete delivery data modelbased, at least in part, on the at least two delivery surface dataobjects to geometrically represent the at least one delivery locationfor aerial package delivery; encoding at least one geographic address inthe at least one complete delivery data model to cause, at least inpart, an association of the at least one complete delivery data modelwith at least one geographic location; and initiating transmission ofthe complete delivery data model to at least one aerial delivery vehicleto deliver the at least one package at the at least one deliverylocation of the at least one geographic address based on the completedelivery data model by enabling the at least one aerial delivery vehicleto determine a delivery surface of the at least two delivery surfacesrepresented by the at least two delivery surface data objects forplacing the at least one package.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein eachof the at least two delivery surface data objects represents arespective delivery surface of the at least two delivery surfaces of theat least one delivery location.
 3. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: determining at least one restricted access surface dataobject to represent one or more restricted access surfaces associatedwith the at least one delivery location, wherein the one or morerestricted access surfaces represent at least one surface that isimpenetrable by the at least one aerial delivery vehicle, and whereinthe creation of the at least one complete delivery data model is furtherbased, at least in part, on the at least one restricted access surfacedata objects.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determiningone or more boundary elements to represent at least one boundary of theat least two delivery surfaces; and incorporating the one or moreboundary elements in the at least one delivery surface data object. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining at least onedelivery edge from among the one or more boundary elements, wherein theat least one delivery edge represents at least one preferred edge for adelivery of the at least one package.
 6. The method of claim 1, whereinthe at least one delivery surface data object, the at least one completedelivery data model, or a combination thereof is specified with respectto one or more geographic point objects referenced according to a fixedworld coordinate system.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:ranking the at least one delivery surface data object according to oneor more ranking criteria, wherein the ranking is included in the atleast one complete delivery data model.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the one or more ranking criteria include, at least in part, aproximity to one or more entrances associated with the geographicaddress, environmental conditions associated with the geographicaddress, environmental conditions associated with delivery route, one ormore crime statistics associated with the geographic address, a statusof an aerial delivery vehicle, delivery package information, historicaldelivery information, one or more customer review, a user input, or acombination thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the associationof the at least one complete delivery data model with the at least onegeographic location further comprises associating the at least onecomplete delivery data model with at least one of: at least one linkidentifier of at least one map link in at least one map database; apercent distance from at least one reference node in the least one mapdatabase; a side of the at least one map link; a perpendicular distancefrom the at least one map link; and at least one Universal LocationReference (ULR).
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: encodingdelivery information, package information, recipient information,address information, sender information, or a combination thereof in oneor more codes associated with the at least one package, the at least onedelivery location, the at least one geographic location, or acombination thereof, wherein the one or more codes include one or moremachine readable optical labels, one or more wireless beacon signals,one or more near field communication signals, or a combination thereof;and wherein the at least one delivery location includes, at least inpart, at least one landing pad for the at least one aerial deliveryvehicle.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more codes aremade available for reading by the at least one aerial delivery vehiclecapable of delivering the at least one package, accepting the at leastone package for delivery, or a combination thereof.
 12. An apparatuscomprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory includingcomputer program code for one or more programs, the at least one memoryand the computer program code configured to, with the at least oneprocessor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:determine at least two delivery surface data objects to represent atleast two delivery surfaces of at least one delivery location, whereinthe at least two delivery surfaces represents at least one surface uponwhich to deliver at least one package; create at least one completedelivery data model based, at least in part, on the at least twodelivery surface data objects to geometrically represent the at leastone delivery location for aerial package delivery; encode at least onegeographic address in the at least one complete delivery data model tocause, at least in part, an association of the at least one completedelivery data model with at least one geographic location; and initiatetransmission of the complete delivery data model to at least one aerialdelivery vehicle to deliver the at least one package at the at least onedelivery location of the at least one geographic address based on thecomplete delivery data model by enabling the at least one aerialdelivery vehicle to determine a delivery surface of the at least twodelivery surfaces represented by the at least two delivery surface dataobjects for placing the at least one package.
 13. The apparatus of claim12, wherein each of the at least two delivery surface data objectsrepresents a respective delivery surface of the at least two deliverysurfaces of the at least one delivery location.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determining atleast one restricted access surface data object to represent one or morerestricted access surfaces associated with the at least one deliverylocation, wherein the one or more restricted access surfaces representat least one surface that is impenetrable by the at least one aerialdelivery vehicle, and wherein the creation of the at least one completedelivery data model is further based, at least in part, on the at leastone restricted access surface data objects.
 15. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine one or moreboundary elements to represent at least one boundary of the at least twodelivery surfaces; and incorporate the one or more boundary elements inthe at least one delivery surface data object.
 16. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: determine at leastone delivery edge from among the one or more boundary elements, whereinthe at least one delivery edge represents at least one preferred edgefor a delivery of the at least one package.
 17. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the at least one delivery surface data object, the at leastone complete delivery data model, or a combination thereof is specifiedwith respect to one or more geographic point objects referencedaccording to a fixed world coordinate system.
 18. A computer-readablestorage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or moreinstructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause anapparatus to perform: determining at least two delivery surface dataobjects to represent at least two delivery surfaces of at least onedelivery location, wherein the at least two delivery surfaces representsat least one surface upon which to deliver at least one package;creating at least one complete delivery data model based, at least inpart, on the at least two delivery surface data objects to geometricallyrepresent the at least one delivery location for aerial packagedelivery; encoding at least one geographic address in the at least onecomplete delivery data model to cause, at least in part, an associationof the at least one complete delivery data model with at least onegeographic location; and initiating transmission of the completedelivery data model to at least one aerial delivery vehicle to deliverthe at least one package at the at least one delivery location of the atleast one geographic address based on the complete delivery data modelby enabling the at least one aerial delivery vehicle to determine adelivery surface of the at least two delivery surfaces represented bythe at least two delivery surface data objects for placing the at leastone package.
 19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18,wherein each of the at least two delivery surface data objectsrepresents a respective delivery surface of the at least two deliverysurfaces of the at least one delivery location.
 20. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the apparatus isfurther caused to perform: determining at least one restricted accesssurface data object to represent one or more restricted access surfacesassociated with the at least one delivery location, wherein the one ormore restricted access surfaces represent at least one surface that isimpenetrable by the at least one aerial delivery vehicle, and whereinthe creation of the at least one complete delivery data model is furtherbased, at least in part, on the at least one restricted access surfacedata objects.